I can add you to the informal ping list that me, Dog, and a couple of our FR associates use if you want.
As far as the pictures of these guys go, keep in mind that most of them (especially the ones w/ beards) have likely altered their appearance to some extent since the BOLO was first issued. I also doubt that they're traveling under their real names. Keep in mind that most Arabs can successfully pass themselves off as Hispanics if they have the fake documents to do so.
More now from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/10/18/binladen.tape/ In two audiotaped messages broadcast Saturday by the Arabic TV news network Al Jazeera, a man purported to be Osama bin Laden discussed Iraq and threatened to launch suicide attacks against the United States and any countries that help it.
According to a CNN translation, the tapes -- one addressed to Iraqis and Arab Muslims throughout the world, the other to the American people -- feature a man claiming to be the al Qaeda leader discussing suicide attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and the Iraqi Governing Council.
He also gave specific figures for the U.S. economy, saying the country is facing a deficit of more than $450 billion. The United States announced an expected $455 billion budget deficit in the current fiscal year on July 15.
But he also referred to Mahmoud Abbas as though he is still Palestinian prime minister. Abbas resigned from the post on September 6.
CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield said officials are "doing a technical analysis" of the tapes which has "not yet been completed." CIA analysts generally state within two days whether or not they believe voices on tape are who they say they are.
The message to Americans threatened suicide attacks against U.S. citizens in and outside the United States. It called on Americans to reject President Bush's "aggression" against Iraq, which he called part of a Jewish plot "against our religion and our people."
"We will fight you as long as we have weapons in our hands," he said to Americans.
The message to Iraqis and Arab Muslims worldwide called the U.S.-led effort in Iraq "a Christian war" and issued a rallying cry for Muslims to launch jihad operations against the United States and allies helping it. "The aggressors should know we reserve the right to respond at a time and place that we see appropriate," he said, specifically naming England, Spain, Australia, Japan, Poland, and Italy.
Also, the man said, "There's no exception if that country that is helping is an Arab country -- especially Kuwait."
He accused Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Abbas of operating "puppet governments."
He also called on Muslims to fight those in their midst who support democratic solutions to conflicts.
"There are many voices going loud and clear in Iraq -- as before in Egypt, Palestine, Yemen and others -- calling for peaceful, democratic solutions in dealing with infidel governments," the voice said, citing the Iraqi Governing Council as an example. "We have to warn against the danger of this methodology. This is against the Sharia (Islamic law) of God.
"You have no reward but in Jihad," he added, calling those who support the United States "infidels and heretics."
He called on Muslims to continue martyrdom operations against "infidels and crusaders."
"God only knows if I'll find a way to come to the battlefields that you are engaged in," he said.
Here is the Xinhua version:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-10/19/content_1130642.htm BAGHDAD, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- An audio tape purportedly recorded by al Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden was aired by Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV channel Saturday, calling for jihad, or holy war against the United States that currently led an multinational force in Iraq.
@@In a voice message addressed to US President George W. Bush, bin Laden also called on the United States to withdraw from Iraq, saying "You send your sons to Iraq in order to kill them." The voice on the tape said "America is bogged down in the swamps of Tigris and the Euphrates...Bush (US President) thought Iraq and its oil reserve is a free treasure," but now his troops are in a real "plight."
@@"The United States now call for mercenary soldiers from the West and the East," said the voice, referring to the US-sought contribution of troops and funds from a number of countries. The al Qaida chief threatened to carry out more suicide attacks inside and outside the United States and retaliation against countries joining the US-led coalition forces.
@@"We will go on fighting you and we will carry on martyrdom(suicide) operations in and outside the United States until you stop being unjust," said the voice.
@@"We reserve the right to retaliate at the proper time and place against all countries that take part in this unjust war (against Iraq), namely Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy. "In the message to the Iraqis, the speaker said "This is a new crusade on the Islamic world," urging the youth in Iraq's neighboring countries not to follow the voices in Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and elsewhere, which call for democratic and peaceful solutions.
@@The terror master last appeared in early September when al-Jazeera aired a video tape showing him and his top aide Aimen Zawahili walking in mountains, both carrying AK-47 rifles. The pan-Arab space channel has broadcasted several recorded messages claimed to be from terrorist groups and Iraq's ousted leader Saddam Hussein, which encouraged Iraqis to resist the occupying troops.
@@Criticised of inciting violence, the television, along with Dubai-based Arabiya TV channel, has been banned from reporting official events in the US-controled country.
I'm still looking for a complete transcript and will post one as soon as I find it.
Yes, please add me to the ping list.
It is terribly easy to alter appearance and the way an Arab would get by in my southern town is to dress like the local Hispanic farm workers. I think behavior is the only thing that would make me look twice at one of these guys.